Team Leader Kang of the Player Management Office felt nervous for the first time in a long while.
The reason was simple: Function’s summoned being, Lee Nayeon, had been revealed to the public, and in the most dazzling way possible.
She had shot up to stardom overnight.
Up to that point, it could even be seen as helpful for Function’s gradual entry into player society and guild creation.
If we stretch it a hundred times, maybe… but that’s not the real problem.
The real issue was that word had spread that Lee Nayeon was SS-rank.
And that the eldest son of SG Group had set his eyes on her.
On top of that, rumor had it that the SG Group chairman himself had personally called the Player Office Director to subtly probe about the SS-rank player.
Director Moon Kwon-su summoned him immediately.
“Have you… ever met her in person, apart from as a summoned being?”
“…Director?”
“No, just asking. Just asking. She is officially registered as a Korean player, after all.”
The newspaper Moon Kwon-su had put down contained a small photo of SS-rank player Lee Nayeon from the Supersonic photoshoot.
Just the headline alone explained why the world was paying attention to her:
A never-before-seen SS-rank player revealed to the public, with a mixed-blood-like, overwhelming figure and beauty.
It was the synergy of those two facts that created explosive buzz.
It was already public knowledge that, under the pretext of protecting players, high-rankers had been gathered until North Korea’s provocations ended.
“Since things have come to this… we should probably start Choi Junseok’s official debut that we’ve been preparing in the shadows.”
One of the Player Office’s duties was approving guild creation.
Business registration for guilds was handled separately as a special case and reviewed by the Player Office.
If a player who had cleared the 30th floor gathered five or more people and applied, there was no particular reason to block it.
“Function probably hasn’t gathered five people yet, right?”
“If you include me, we’d have five.”
“You too?”
“Just kidding.”
“No… putting your name on the roster wouldn’t be a problem. You, Function, Lee Nayeon, Song Hana… that’s four, isn’t it?”
“And Lee Jiyu will probably join as well.”
“Lee Jiyu?”
S-rank player.
The Supersonic Bunny.
Everyone knew her.
“Well, she did hit the jackpot using Lee Nayeon as a model.”
“Exactly.”
Team Leader Kang cautiously watched the director’s expression, worried that Lee Jiyu might know Function’s true identity, but Moon Kwonsu seemed indifferent.
“The problem is how to shake off that leech, the eldest son of SG Group. As you know, the Player Office can’t easily say no to them for various reasons.”
Right now, concerns over SG Group’s monopoly had led to distributing influence to other energy companies and major guild-backed conglomerates.
Thanks to that, SG Group’s influence in player society was definitely weaker than in the early days of the tower, but their reach throughout the entire player world was still undeniable.
“As rumors spread that Lee Nayeon is a government-managed player, positive views toward the Player Office have increased… but there are downsides like this too.”
“We’ll just keep saying we don’t know. Anyway, Choi Junseok entering the player scene was inevitable.”
***
[You have entered the 31st floor.]
[Time limit: 1 hour 00 minutes.]
[31st floor clear condition: Defeat 30 Black-Clothed Men.]
Choi Junseok, Song Hana, and Lee Nayeon had just gloriously cleared the 31st floor.
It was a floor where you had to kill enemies that looked exactly resembled humans, so while Choi Junseok hesitated,
Lee Nayeon instantly dashed forward and sliced through the martial-artist-garbed enemies with single strokes.
Not a single drop of blood splattered on her.
It felt like she was venting the stress she’d received during the day inside the tower, merciless and clean.
She could have cleaved three or four at once if she used more strength, but for some reason she controlled her power.
She’s definitely taking it out on them…
It was obvious. Choi Junseok had watched her for nearly a month now.
She was unleashing the irritation from earlier in the department store right here.
Watching her cut down human-looking enemies without mercy, Choi Junseok swallowed dryly.
[Congratulations!]
[You have cleared the 31st floor.]
[Clear time: 57 seconds.]
[Would you like to register anonymously in the Hall of Fame? (Y/N)]
[Fairy Dragon of Recovery’s additional effect activated.]
[Middle-floor clear rewards granted.]
Of course, it still took less than a minute.
The warning Team Leader Kang had given him shortly after they first met echoed again in Choi Junseok’s mind.
– It would be best to maintain a good relationship with her.
– There have been many reported cases overseas of summoned beings killing their summoners.
Gulp.
Avoiding Lee Nayeon’s gaze, Choi Junseok quietly said he was returning to reality.
***
Back in reality, after receiving a call from Team Leader Kang, Choi Junseok gathered everyone with a resolute expression.
From the moment he ended the call with determination, Song Hana and Lee Jiyu had been watching his mood.
“Everyone, pay attention. I have a major announcement.”
Lee Jiyu tensed for no reason, Lee Nayeon remained calm, and Song Hana hugged Kamdori as if scared.
What came out of Choi Junseok’s mouth was:
“We’re creating a guild.”
Lee Jiyu let out a silent sigh of relief.
“Now, we need to decide on a guild name. Any suggestions?”
Guild culture originated from private player climbing clubs, basically mountaineering meetups.
Some used corporate names, but most were decided together with founding members, like naming a gaming clan, because the tower system itself resembled a game.
“If no one has any, I’ll suggest one. Function Guild?”
Lee Jiyu snorted.
“You’re going to put it right in the name?”
“There are already some.”
“…Pardon?”
“There are a lot.”
Choi Junseok showed Lee Nayeon, Song Hana, and Lee Jiyu his phone screen.
The Player Office’s guild directory search page.
A job board exclusively for players, created for safer climbing, collaboration, and team formation.
Players applied to guilds matching their role, abilities, rank, and level.
Guilds posted desired abilities, target floors, and rewards.
Naturally, you could search by keyword, and searching “Function” already returned 74 guilds.
“Why are there so many?!”
“My thoughts exactly.”
“Are these all these Function Church people…?”
“Some probably are, but there are also joke guilds.”
“And the Player Office approved all of these? They’re slacking.”
“They might have purposely let them through… there’s no real reason to block them, right?”
“True, but still.”
Even the #1 registered “Function Church Guild” had quite a few members.
They had decent revenue from climbing-related businesses…
“Surprisingly solid guild?”
The description seemed normal, but clicking the link revealed strong Function Church vibes.
They even ran climbs with only F-ranks, twenty of them.
“Wow… they cleared the 10th floor with twenty F-ranks only. Is that even possible?”
“You looking down on F-ranks? I’m an F-rank too, you know.”
“Ah, right. You were F-rank.”
Gathering twenty F-ranks in the first place was amazing.
Twenty F-ranks is statistically almost as hard as gathering twenty S-ranks.
That’s talent in itself.
“They say instant acceptance if you’re F-rank. They’ll help you grow as long as you want to climb…”
Choi Junseok felt his forehead grow hot.
“Those little… they’re actually a good guild.”
No one knew the life of a socially despised F-rank porter better than Choi Junseok.
He had climbed the tower enduring every kind of humiliation as an F-rank pack mule.
“No choice. Guild names can’t overlap, so we’ll yield to Function Church.”
“You were seriously considering taking it?!”
“Yeah. If it was half-assed, I would’ve asked the Player Office to take it, but they’re this sincere, so we should respect the name Function Guild.”
As long as no one suddenly pops out claiming to be the real Function.
“Any other ideas?”
“Function Function Super Guild!” (Song Hana, excitedly raising her hand)
“…Rejected!”
When Song Hana’s cheerful suggestion was shot down,
“Kamdori Guild!”
“For Kamdori Guild!”
“Kamdori Is Cute Guild!”
She started spamming variations.
“All rejected!”
Choi Junseok naturally looked at Lee Nayeon. She narrowed her brows as if to say why are you looking at me?
“One idea each. Next is you, Jiyu-ssi. Get ready.”
“Me too?”
Lee Nayeon thought for a long time.
“…Fighting Fighting… Function Guild.”
“Hmm.”
Her face strangely flushed as she looked away.
“Next?”
He looked at Lee Jiyu.
“Like Like Function Guild?”
“Like-Like Function?!”
The ring of it instantly hooked Choi Junseok.
“That’s good.”
The cheap, small-guild vibe somehow perfectly matched his taste.
“Alright! Guild name decided: Like Like Function Guild!”
It was a name so embarrassing you’d hesitate to say it out loud anywhere.
The three women stared at him as if asking are you serious?, but what could they do? The guild master gets to decide.
Now they could finally climb while enjoying all sorts of tax benefits.
– …So the guild name is really “Like Like Function Guild”?
“Yes.”
– Putting “Function” in it… well, there are already so many, so it’s fine.
“Exactly. It’s camouflage.”
– But do you really need to include “Function”?
“If one day I reveal that I’m Function, wouldn’t this be perfect foreshadowing?”
– Fair, but once word spreads that Lee Nayeon, Choi Junseok, and Song Hana are in it, people will flock anyway.
Adding “Function” might cause unnecessary misunderstandings.
A reasonable concern.
But ever since Function reached player ranking #0, praising Function had become a kind of meme among players.
“They’ll just think we’re riding the meme.”
“Once the guild is created, we’re obligated to interview and train applicants. If we stay at five members forever, that’ll become a problem. And the guild’s clear records and challenge floors will also be an issue.”
– We can fake the officially announced clear floors to some extent, but completely hiding that the member count isn’t growing past a certain point will be difficult.
Makes sense.
Even if they claim to be an elite few,
the moment rumors spread that Lee Jiyu is in the guild, male high-rankers might consider transferring regardless of money.
Just for the chance to party with Lee Nayeon.
– Anyway, we’ll approve it. Wishing Like Like Function Guild safe climbs.
“Now only one thing remains.”
It was time for Lee Jiyu to notify eastern Eden Guild of her withdrawal and transfer.
A difficult road lay ahead for her.